Building neighborhoods together where living is pleasant

As part of the Area-Based Neighborhood and Village Approach of the province of Limburg, the alliance partners Envida, Maastricht Municipality, Mondriaan, Province of Limburg, Servatius, Trajekt and Woonpunt signed the official cooperation agreement of the Resilient Neighborhoods Maastricht Program on Friday, March 13. Thereby, they confirm their joint approach to improve livability, safety and socio-economic opportunities in the Pottenberg and Nazareth neighborhoods together with the residents.

Resilient Neighborhoods

The Resilient Neighborhoods Program focuses on the two post-war neighborhoods of Pottenberg and Nazareth. These neighborhoods have developed since the 1950s as parish neighborhoods with a rich association life and committed residents. Due to various developments, we see that the challenges in the neighborhoods are piling up. As a result, resilience is under pressure. Due to various causes, such as concerns about money, work, health, housing and upbringing, residents feel less in control of their lives and less self-reliant. Through the Resilient Neighborhoods Program, the alliance partners help to break difficult situations and strengthen initiatives to increase the resilience of the residents. Together with the residents, we are building neighborhoods where it is good to live and live. The program stands for long-term and integral cooperation in order to make a difference for current residents and the new generation in the neighborhoods. Deputy Marc van Caldenberg is pleased with the broad cooperation. “It is beautiful that we as a province contribute in eight municipalities to a long-term cooperation to build safe, social and livable neighborhoods together with residents. Together we are building a sustainable and strong community where every person has opportunities to develop.”

Milestones

The program has a duration of 20 years and has recently started officially. In the past period, beautiful results have already been achieved. Thus, the signing of the cooperation agreement takes place at the location of the brand new youth drop-in center in Pottenberg. There has been a need for a place for young people in the neighborhood for years. Now, with the help of Servatius, a beautiful place has been found at the Silexstraat. And the young people themselves are at work with the decoration and arrangement of it through a learning and participation trajectory. At this location, young people from Pottenberg are given the opportunity, under the guidance of youth workers from Trajekt, to meet each other, to play sports and to study soon. Also, workshops and training courses are offered in the long term, with which the young people can improve their skills and competencies and thus work on their future. “Young people need a meeting place in the neighborhood where they grow up, we are very happy that Servatius has offered us this space. This brings a nice place, right in the neighborhood”, according to Trajekt. Social Director Servatius Youssef El Otmani: “Together with the young people and Trajekt, we have created a place in the neighborhood where they really feel at home. Their “own nest” to grow, meet each other and give something beautiful back to the neighborhood. Together we are building resilient neighborhoods.”

On the day of the signing, two important milestones regarding the reconstruction of the neighborhood are celebrated in Pottenberg: Woonpunt officially opens the new Mammoetflat and celebrates the achievement of the highest point of the Poortgebouw at the Terra Cottaplein. This brings 102 new apartments available. In the plinth of the Poortgebouw, business spaces are coming, which gives the heart of Pottenberg more liveliness and a more varied range of facilities. Thus, a social space is also coming through cooperation of Trajekt, Envida and the municipality. Here, the Buurtbrök will soon have its permanent place. The project involves an investment of more than 32 million euros. Woonpunt manager Wim Hazeu: “With the construction of both the Mammoetflat and the Poortgebouw, we are giving Pottenberg a new beating heart. Together with Envida and Trajekt, we will soon offer supporting care and plenty of space for meeting in the heart of the neighborhood for all Pottenbergers.” “The Poortgebouw will be a place where living, care and initiatives come together naturally,” says Envida. “With new, care-friendly apartments and a social plinth that we realize together, not only living space is created, but also a place where residents of Pottenberg can meet, learn and undertake. That plinth is filled together with residents: the space is facilitated by the involved organizations, but the strength lies precisely in the ideas and initiatives of the residents themselves. Together we are building a bustling place and a resilient community.” Alderman Frans Bastiaens: “The strength of this program lies in the interplay: residents who give direction with their ideas, energy and commitment and partners who join hands.” Alderman Jeroen Hoenderkamp concludes: “Together we are building neighborhoods where opportunities grow, where people feel at home and where we help each other forward.” Finally, beautiful activities will take place on March 13, 2026 as part of NLdoet. With POTTENBERGdoet and NAZARETHdoet, employees of the alliance partners, together with volunteers from the neighborhood, elementary school students and the United World College, roll up their sleeves to make the neighborhood more beautiful, greener and cleaner.